1 . Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country, but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.
Canada left the British Empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country, and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.
Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is rare.
The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland(中心地带) of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels(标签) and instructions in both languages.
In Canada’s English-speaking provinces, official bilingualism means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this program, they are taught most of their subjects in French. If a student begins the course in kindergarten(幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all his lessons will be in French. But if he starts at junior high school, 25 percent of the teaching will continue to be in English.
1. Which country controlled Canada before its independence?| A．France. | B．America. | C．The British Empire. | D．Germany. |
| A．In Quebec and a few other places. | B．Only in Quebec. |
| C．From the two national television networks. | D．All over Canada. |
| A．外语教育 | B．双语教育 | C．母语教育 | D．语言教育 |
| A．Only English courses are offered. |
| B．Most of the courses in junior high schools are taught in English. |
| C．The courses in primary schools are all taught in English. |
| D．If you choose a special French language course in kindergarten, all of the lessons will be taught in French. |
2 . No one is sure how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids near Cairo. But a new study suggests they used a little rock ‘n’ roll. Long-ago builders could have attached wooden poles to the stones and rolled them across the sand, the scientists say.
“Technically, I think what they're proposing is possible,” physicist Daniel Bonn said.
People have long puzzled over how the Egyptians moved such huge rocks. And there's no obvious answer. On average, each of the two million big stones weighed about as much as a large pickup truck. The Egyptians somehow moved the stone blocks to the pyramid site from about one kilometer away.
The most popular view is that Egyptian workers slid the blocks along smooth paths. Many scientists suspect workers first would have put the blocks on sleds(滑板). Then they would have dragged them along paths. To make the work easier, workers may have lubricated the paths either with wet clay or with the fat from cattle. Bonn has now tested this idea by building small sleds and dragging heavy objects over sand. .
Evidence from the sand supports this idea. Researchers found small amounts of fat, as well as a large amount of stone and the remains of paths.
However, physicist Joseph West, who led the new study, thinks there might have been a simpler way. West said, “I was inspired while watching a television program showing how sleds might have helped with pyramid construction. I thought, ‘Why don't they just try rolling the things?’” A square could be turned into a rough sort of wheel by attaching wooden poles to its sides, he realized. That, he noted, should make a block of stone “a lot easier to roll than a square”.
So he tried it. He and his students tied some poles to each of four sides of a 30-kilogram stone block. That action turned the block into somewhat a wheel. Then they placed the block on the ground.
They wrapped one end of a rope around the block and pulled. The researchers found they could easily roll the block along different kinds of paths. They calculated that rolling the block required about as much force as moving it along a slippery(滑的) path.
West hasn't tested his idea on larger blocks, but he thinks rolling has clear advantages over sliding. At least, workers wouldn't have needed to carry cattle fat or water to smooth the paths.
1. It's widely believed that the stone blocks were moved to the pyramid site by _________.| A．rolling them on roads | B．pushing them over the sand |
| C．sliding them on smooth paths | D．dragging them on some poles |
| A．Made the paths wet. | B．Made the paths hard. |
| C．Made the paths wide. | D．Made the paths slippery. |
| A．Because more force is needed for sliding. |
| B．Because rolling work can be done by fewer cattle. |
| C．Because sliding on smooth roads is more dangerous. |
| D．Because less preparation on paths is needed for rolling. |
| A．An experiment on ways of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| B．An application of the method of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| C．An argument about different methods of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| D．An introduction to a possible new way of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
3 . The discovery of Liangzhu Culture
From December 1936 to March 1937, three archaeological diggings were carried out in the suburbs of Hangzhou,where loads of black ceramics and stoneware were brought to light.
Inspired by these relics, an archaeology lover named Shí Xingeng, who came from West Lake Museum in Hangzhou, wrote several detailed reports on the digging. However, he had to put his work aside when China started to fall into Japan's military aggression. Shi joined the resistance movement against Japanese invasion and died of disease in 1939. What passed away along with him during the war were many of Liangzhu's precious relics.
Fortunately, Shi's reports were finally published in Shanghai in 1938, which caught considerable attention of archaeological circles, In 1959,the name Liangzhu Culture was given to the independent regional culture by archaeologist Xia Nai. It represented an earlier civilization that had remained unknown to historians. The culture, as the radiocarbon dating applied to the relics proved, existed between 3,300 and 2,200 B.C.
It is commonly believed that the earliest known Chinese written language dates back to more than 3,000 year ago; when oracle bone script appeared in Shang Dynasty. But Liangzhu Culture might provide evidence of a written language that appeared in China at least 1,000 years ealiler.
In 2007, Liangzhu Ancient City was reported to be discovered in Hangzhou, where archaeological diggings revealed a large and early walled city in Chinese history. There were man-made hills and streams in the city area, which were very likely part of the early designed urban landscape. To protect the urban space which was formed by waterways and entrances both Inside and outside the city, a flood control system was connected to the river networks and 11 dams. In the fields outside the wall, archaeologists discovered rains of the residences, tombs, workshops, and docks with wooden boats.
1. What can we learn about Liangzhu Culture?| A．It was well preserved. | B．It was named by Shi Xingeng. |
| C．Many of its relics were lost during the war. | D．It was discovered In 1959. |
| A．It proved that Chins has a long history. |
| B．It unearthed a great number of relics. |
| C．It showed the professionalism of Chinese archaeology. |
| D．It might prove the existence of an earlier Chinese written language |
| A．It was e well-designed city. | B．It showed the rules left by flood. |
| C．There were no hills or streams in the city. | D．It was the largest city in Chinese history. |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．A history lecture. |
| C．A cultural website. | D．An archaeological report. |
4 . Legend(传说) says that soap was first discovered on Sappo Hill in Rome. According to legend, a group of Roman women were washing their clothes in the River Tiber at the base of a hill. Then some fat from the dead animals ran down into the river.
Pompeii was one of the cities destroyed by the volcanic eruption (火山爆发)of Mt. Vesuvius in its ruins. The discovery suggests that the industry was started.
During the early century of the Common Era, although the Romans were well known for their public baths, generally soap was not used for personal cleaning; it was used for the treatment of disease.
| A．It formed something like soap. |
| B．We can say soap was really important in history. |
| C．So soap wasn't necessarily used for body cleaning then. |
| D．Early Romans began to make soap in the first century A. D. |
| E．Some other countries are also thought to have created soap. |
| F．Also, it suggests that soap was widely known in the Roman Empire. |
| G．However, the ancient Babylonians were the ones who invented soap. |
5 . Using Google's unique digital(数字的)technology, the stories of some English Heritage(遗产)sites around the country-from Tintagel Castle in Cornwall to Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall-are brought to life and shared by way of the Google Arts & Culture platform.
 Stonehenge Skyscape | English Heritage's Stonehenge Skyscape enables people around the world to experience the skies above the stone circle, to learn about movements of the sun, moon and planets. Experience a live and special sunrise over Stonehenge, see the journey of the stars and the moon from within the stone circle and learn more about the design of Stonehenge and how its builders may have understood their place in the universe. |
 Osborne, Isle of Wight | Take a 360 video tour of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's palatial(豪华的)holiday home on the Isle of Wight in the company of English Heritage director Michael Hunter, including the Italian terraces(露台)with views over the Solent, which reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples, and the Indian-inspired Durbar Room, designed to show Queen Victoria's position as Empress of India. |
 Audley End House and Gardens, Essex | Explore the story of one of the greatest houses of early 17th-century England, deep in the heart of the Essex countryside, and fly over the great formal gardens designed by Capability Brown. |
 Tintagel Castle, Cornwall | Explore this medieval(中世纪的)castle set high on Cornwall's north coast. Linked with the legend of King Arthur, for centuries this impressive castle and coastline has inspired the imaginations of writers, artists and even the brother of a king. Discover the Early Medieval history of a distant outpost(哨站)trading objects from Spain, North Africa and Turkey. |
1. Which heritage can you choose if you are interested in a unique sunrise?
| A．Stonehenge Skyscape. | B．Osborne, Isle of Wight. |
| C．Audley End House and Gardens, Essex. | D．Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. |
| A．Both were built for their kings. |
| B．Both were built in the same age. |
| C．Both are related to previous rulers. |
| D．Both are palatial holiday homes for the rulers. |
| A．History. | B．Travel. |
| C．Geography. | D．Culture. |
6 . Architectural history can take you through the evolution of those structures that served as a mark to remote civilizations, like the Egyptians and their architecture, reflected in pyramids, tombs, and many other ancient buildings along the Nile River．
In fact, the first big architectural design recorded in history was the work of Imhotep, Egyptian high priest（主教）, who designed and built the complex（综合建筑群） that took the name of his king, between the years 2630 to 2611 BC．
Ruins of the most varied architecture speak for themselves about the most varied civilizations, traditions, and beliefs around the world．Without architecture, the history of mankind would be incomplete．
Many surviving buildings of the ancient world are examples of the great things that architecture can do for the world．Among them, we can name the Great Pyramid, listed as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the great Wall of China, built between the years 221 to 206 BC．
As time passed, all buildings and designs began to take special characteristics, becoming symbols of different eras identified as architectural styles．In ancient Greece, where buildings seemed to always be the same, there were three types of columns to identify each period of time．
The Romans inherited from the Greeks most of their traditions, beliefs, and customs, including architecture, but they also developed their own．
Architectural history was influenced by artistic, economic, politic, and socio-cultural events throughout the centuries, and Europe became the cradle（摇篮） of many well-known architects in the years following the fall of the Roman Empire．
As time passes, the actual architecture differs in shape, materials, construction methods, and designing goals, but the work of the architects will continue for generations to come．
1. Who made the first big architectural design recorded in history?| A．Chinese | B．Indians | C．Egyptians | D．British |
| A．They give tourists chances to visit them． |
| B．They help to satisfy the needs of houses． |
| C．They can bring in a great deal of money for the local people． |
| D．They represent different cultivations, traditions, and beliefs there and then． |
| A．To show its strength | B．To tell us its importance |
| C．To show its special style | D．To prove the function of architecture |
| A．Architectural history was only influenced by economic and politic events． |
| B．The Roman Empire was the cradle of famous architects earlier than Europe． |
| C．The actual architecture remains the same in shape, material and designing goals． |
| D．Europe was the cradle of famous architects earlier than the Roman Empire． |
7 . The Silk Road is a special name for a route(路线） that is not a road.
Recently,people have found some burnt grains, which were East Asia, at four ancient sites in Middle Asian countries.
This means that
The Silk Road affects the way we eat in different countries today,China received seeds of rice and grapes in the early days, Chinese people learnt how to make wine from rice and then also used grapes for this. At the same time, other new seeds of vegetables also came to China.
Seeds were also taken from one area to another all over the world.
| A．It is not made from silk,either. |
| B．They speak different languages. |
| C．In the West,wheat was used to make bread. |
| D．People had to learn how to grow new crops. |
| E．Cucumbers, onions and carrots were a few of them. |
| F．These countries are believed to be in the middle of the routes. |
8 . Casablanca：Time Did Go By
If the Hollywood image of Casablanca is important to you, prepare for a shock from Casablanca.The city is further away from eastern romanticism (浪漫主义）than any other in Morocco，and Casablanca is a modern city — and beautiful in its own aspect.
Colony(殖民地）White
A walk around Casablanca will decide clearly that Casablanca was the place that the French colonial government gave most attention and money.The buildings are of a French version (版本）of Arabo-Andalucian architecture，white with soft lines，and often plenty of details.
The area to explore is south of Avenue des Forces Arms Royales，but of special interest is the Place des Nations Unies，which has the largest structures.
Town Market
Right in from the long Boulevard Muhammad 5, you will find the Marche Central of Casablanca.The place is a small but high-quality version of the traditional suuqs of Morocco, and everything is aiming at the needs of the locals.
The Marche Central has vegetables，meat，all kinds of sea food，as well as handicrafts (手工艺品）.Turtle soup should therefore be an option for those visiting Casablanca.
Old City
The old city of Casablanca is conveniently located — just off the main town square from where roads lead to all directions, and off the sea.But as you enter, you will see that it is not all that old after all，that the houses here often have a form and size which would have made them natural features in the new parts of many other Mococcan cities.
1. Which of the following colonial governments put most money into Casablanca?| A．Moroccan. | B．French. | C．American. | D．Arab. |
| A．Colony White. | B．Old City. | C．Town Market. | D．Casablanca Time. |
| A．Passive. | B．Appreciative. | C．Disappointed. | D．Indifferent. |
9 . Tang Dynasty poets sang for about three centuries in different tones. There were many famous poets living in the Tang period, such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and Li Shangyin. The Poems of Tang Dynasty edited in the Qing Dynasty is a collection of more than 28,900 poems that were written by over 2,200 poets. But it didn't cover all the poems of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Tang Dynasty, poems were recited when lovers walked under the moonlight. Poems were also recited when soldiers fought on the battlefield. People recited them in the open air or at temple fairs.
Tang Dynasty poets wrote poems to win fame and also to develop their temperament (性情). They poured out deep feelings for their friends and criticized injustice in the world through poems.
In the Tang Dynasty scholars had to be poets. Their readers were not only people of high social position but also common people. Poets recited poems, women singers sang poems and other ranks of people, including old women and children, read Tang poems. This atmosphere affected foreigners who visited the country at that time. As a result, Tang poetry was introduced to some adjacent countries, like Japan and Vietnam.
Tang poetry is a most brilliant page in the history of ancient Chinese literature. It's a miracle (奇迹) in the cultural history of mankind. The Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire with a vast territory. It inherited (继承) Chinese civilization that went back to ancient times, was combined with the best of other cultures and adopted the benefits of other nations in the world. Tang poetry wasn't the only spiritual wealth created by the Tang Dynasty people. Philosophy and religion, handwriting and painting, and music and dance all gained new peaks of development. Tang poetry, however, was the jewel in the crown and its greatest achievement.
1. We can conclude from the passage that ________.| A．only people in the Tang Dynasty created poems |
| B．in total there were four famous poets in the Tang Dynasty |
| C．the Tang Dynasty probably existed for about three centuries |
| D．in the Tang Dynasty most common people were poets |
| A．Why the poets created poems. |
| B．Some other kinds of spiritual wealth in the Tang Dynasty. |
| C．The significance and influence of the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．The editors of The Poems of Tang Dynasty. |
| A．strong | B．neighbouring | C．poor | D．rich |
| A．The Great Tang Dynasty |
| B．Tang Dynasty Poetry |
| C．Famous Poets in the Tang Dynasty |
| D．The Development of the Tang Dynasty |
10 . For its critics, the arrival of the London Underground marked the moment the capital got into a messy state. The idea of an underground train had first been formed in the 1840s and one of the leading advocates was Londoner Charles Pearson, but work did not begin on what became the Metropolitan Railway until 1860.
What critics called “the Drain” was not universally popular. Some warned that the tunnels (隧道) would fall apart under the weight of the houses above; others thought an underground railway so terrible that criminals should be forced to take round trips. And the construction work angered the locals. “London would lose its charm forever with this ugly project,” one said.
But by January 1863, the first trains were ready to roll. On Friday 9 January, a special train packed with politicians made the first journey—though the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, refused to join then, explaining that at 78, he wanted to spend as much time above ground as possible. All went well, and the next day, Saturday 10 January, it opened to the public.
To general astonishment, the capital’s new Underground proved a great success. On that first day alone, 38,000 people walked deep down into the earth to ride between Farringdon Street and Bishop’s Road, Paddington. The carriages were divided into three classes and lit by gas; as one pleasantly surprised passenger put it, they were “so large that a man who is six feet tall may stand up straight with his hat on”.
“For the first time in the history of the world,” said The Daily News, “men can travel in pleasant carriages, and with great comfort, lower down than gas pipes and water pipes.”
1. What did Charles Pearson do?| A．He designed the Metropolitan Railway. |
| B．He showed his dissatisfaction with London. |
| C．He built a part of the London Underground. |
| D．He supported building the London Underground. |
| A．Criminals did most of the construction work. |
| B．It provided single trips instead of return trips. |
| C．It was too new to be readily accepted by the public. |
| D．Lots of accidents happened in tunnels universally. |
| A．It was smooth. | B．It was lots of fun. |
| C．It was quite frightening. | D．It was totally disorganized. |
| A．Its height was exactly six feet. |
| B．Its lights were powered by electricity. |
| C．Its floors had lots of gas pipes and water pipes. |
| D．Its carriages were more comfortable than expected. |
